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Blog Archive

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

MY IDEA TREE



When a reader asks me where I get my ideas for the books I write, I say something funny like: "Oh, I have an idea tree growing in my backyard. Once I year I harvest the ideas and store them in my attic to ripen." That usually gets a laugh. If I get a deer-in-the-headlights look, I remind them I'm a writer of fiction, a teller of tall tales. So what did they expect me to say? Stephen King told people he dug his ideas up in the backyard. Of course, he writes horror not romance, so I guess digging things up is appropriate.

The truth is I find ideas for stories everywhere. Everything I see, hear, taste, feel, or smell can spark a story idea.  A snatch of conversation overheard while standing in a grocery store checkout line, reading about a new scientific breakthrough, hearing about a love letter delivered fifty years late, the smell of barbeque on a warm summer night, walking hand-in-hand with my husband through our neighborhood, the sight of two strangers kissing on a street corner or arguing over dinner in a fancy restaurant all trigger What If in my imagination.

And I haven't even mentioned my biggest source of inspiration - novels, TV shows and movies. Though I write mostly in the many sub-genres of romance, I'm a voracious reader of all genres of fiction from romance to horror, mainstream contemporary to historical, mystery to science fiction. Every book I read adds to my knowledge and feeds my muse. Like a squirrel she gathers bits and pieces from every book: an interesting character trait, a fascinating local, a new word. Then she uses them to season the raw ideas I plucked from my tree.

My husband is a big fan of science fiction, but doesn't care for reading, so we watch a lot of TV and movies. Like with books my muse is constantly on the prowl for more ideas.




The Twilight Zone series is one of his favorites and mine. Several of my books draw their beginnings from specific episodes. STAR CRASH was partially inspired by Roddy McDowall's People Are Alike All Over episode. And poses the question, what would it be like to be the star attraction in an alien zoo? Just to stir things up a bit STAR CRASH also incorporates a bit of Star Trek and Planet of the Apes.




THE SWORD AND THE PEN grew out of a combination of  the TV show Xena The Warrior Princess meets the movie Stranger Than Fiction, with a touch of the book InkHeart as well as a dab of Keenan Wynn's Twilight Zone episode A World Of His Own. If you're a writer I highly recommend you watch this episode.



Even my shorter contemporary romances have been inspired by real life issues and events. After a visit to the HAHS - Hooved Animal HumaneSociety center in northern Illinois, I set my book THE BABY RACE on a horse rescue ranch. And MAGGIE UNDERCOVER was inspired in part by the Drew Barrymore movie Never Been kissed as well as my son who even though he's thirty still looks like a teenager.



I love to take themes and ideas from different sources mix them together then add my own unique twist to create something new, and I hope interesting and exciting for my readers.

The world is filled with stories both true and fictional waiting to be told. More stories than I could possibly write, which is why I'm glad there are so many talented authors in the world. Because even if I can't write all the stories I still want to read them.

So what inspires you to write? To read?

Happy Reading!
Friday, August 8, 2014

Return to the Planet of the Apes

I know this isn’t book related, but I’ve been bothered by something I learned this week. As sci-fi lovers, I thought it might interest you as well.

We don’t get out much, but we did get to see Return to Planet of the Apes last weekend. Great movie! Keep in mind, I’m one of those who always read the book first, and then complains about the movie. Yeah, I know, but I practically live at Dog-Eared Pages bookstore so what do you expect?

Anyway, I didn’t read the book before seeing this movie. I don’t even know if there is a book. What I do know is that I truly enjoyed the film as its own medium, without having to compare it to a book. I guess you could call it a novel experience.
 
I was amazed at how the ape called Caesar played the main character. His face was so expressive, you knew his thoughts without him saying a word. The scene between he and his son almost had me in tears. How did they do that? These weren’t masks. Masks couldn’t portray emotion so clearly. And I’m almost positive Caesar wasn’t a real ape.

After the movie, my friend Don Gerron, (Don worked on the short film that took first place at this year’s Phoenix Comicon and designs my bookcovers — lucky me!) began to fill me in on some background. They use CGI (computer-generated imagery) animation to create the apes.

Of course, I had no idea what that meant. So Don explained further. The actors have sensors attached to their faces and bodies and then perform their scenes. Their movements are tracked by special software, and then animated for the film.

“Wait, you mean to tell me. That guy produced such meaningful facial expressions with sticky stuff all over his face? Now that’s acting. The only animation I’d ever seen I thought was better, was the scene in Lord of the Rings when Gollum is arguing with himself. I remember being transfixed by that scene.”

Imagine my surprise when Don tells me Caesar and Gollum were played by the same actor; Andy Serkis. I googled Andy, and learned he’d been cast in lots of great movies. This guy is mega-talented. How could I have never heard of him? Granted, I’m not a big movie buff and rarely pay attention to such things. Many of you may already know this, but it was news to me and figured I can’t be the only one in the dark.

According to my friend Don (and IMDB), although Andy Serkis has been critically acclaimed for his performances, he was ruled ineligible for Best Supporting Actor nominations at the Academy Awards because his characters Gollum in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes were computer generated.

What? That’s crazy!

I don’t understand. Can’t the Academy create a new category for CGI (also called Motion Animation) actors? It strikes me that it might take as much talent to do what Andy Serkis does. Seriously, how do you do serious acting with globs of gunk all over you?

It also seems rather obvious that we’ll see more of this type animation in the future. I believe great talent should be recognized and to be ineligible for the highest award in your industry seems quite unfair to me.


I’d love to hear your thoughts on this in our comments section. If you think I’m making too much of this, I’ll just go back to my books and enjoy Andy’s work whenever it’s playing. If you agree, maybe we could start a #OscarsForMotionAnimationActors campaign on Twitter.

Empathy begets synergy,

Anna Questerly
Monday, August 4, 2014

Futuristic Archangel by Vijaya Schartz - 99cts until 8-7


99cts in kindle
http://amzn.com/B004HO69RS
What if you were told you are not entirely human, and you must fight an unspeakable evil coming to enslave the human race? Michael doesn't want any part of it... until the people he loves are threatened and his nightmares become reality.


"...relationships, angels, aliens and seduction... even Satanism... kept this reviewer riveted... you won't want to put it down... superior... enthralls, and, at the same time, awakens!" Richard Fuller, Metaphysical Reviews

"A mighty fine tale primed to read through in one sitting."
Curled Up With a Good Book - 5 stars

"engaging, fast-paced... harmonious mix of enticing story where real people do extraordinary things. Humorous, hopeful, fluid and entertaining, often droll dialogue. Marvelous tale of good and evil." The Charlotte Austin Review - 5 stars

"Lavishly described, expertly written with stirring descriptions that take one's breath away... a solidly absorbing, old-fashioned science fiction novel of good and evil, yes and no, the one and the many." The Book Reader 

Checkmate $2.99 in kindle
http://amzn.com/B004KKY6CY


The other book in this series of two, is Checkmate, where the same characters fight evil anew a few years later.

HAPPY READING!


Vijaya Schartz
http://www.vijayaschartz.com


B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vijaya.schartz
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Vijayaschartz
Friday, August 1, 2014

Space Western!

My latest SFR release has a setting I call the Space Frontier. In my world building I see a couple or three hundred years of colonists moving out from Terra in star sleep space ships at first. Later there are faster ships and jumpstreams, fueled by a highly prized new mineral called cryst. There are still far flung isolated communities, agriworlds that have difficulty maintaining their high tech past.Some planets have developed governments, treaties and allies, others are chaos. Most worlds have a great deal of empty space, and lawlessness and piracy are common.

Go centuries into the future from the Space Frontier and you have my Diaspora Worlds books--same history, just much farther into the future.

My hero is from a frontier planet and got caught up in the Slave Wars, which didn't really settle the issue of how to treat the humanoid non Terran race they share the galaxy with.The War did leave Jack Starlander as the only survivor of the small group from his homeworld that fought, which is why he hasn't returned home but mines cryst on an asteroid.

Widowed single mother Sophie has powerful paranormal abilities, but she has run into lawless men, slavers.

$2.99 on Amazon or free with Kindle Unlimited

Blurb

Asteroid miner Jack Starlander stumbles upon the illegal sale of a woman and child with unusual abilities. Jack once fought to free slaves and can't abide slavers. In the ensuing shoot out, two important men die. Jack, Sophie and her daughter and Jack's close neighbors are forced to flee to safety. Their journey takes them into deadly danger.
An Antiquarian with her own ancient secret, Sophie knows old stories may seem fantastical but have core of truth. She recognizes the mythic thread in the old Starlander legend. Perhaps his family's myth can save them.


Sci-Fi Romance For Your Ears

We usually think of sci-fi romance in terms of novel, films, or TV shows. I'd like to introduce to a treat for your sci-fi attuned ears.

SciFi Romance is, according to their website:

"...an independent folk band from Los Angeles that blends unique arrangements and a dark, percussive take on acoustic music into a sound that has been labeled "steamfolk" for evoking a punk-infused, retro-future vibe. Their new album The Ghost of John Henry, a concept album about the John Henry legend, was released in May 2012."





"The band's debut album ...and surrender my body to the flames, which was performed entirely by Vance Kotrla, was named one of the Best of 2010 (Anestakis Indie Music Blog), and called "a well done blend of dark and moody steamfolk" (Examiner) reminiscent of "somber Nick Cave meets Joseph Heller with a screening of Metropolis in the background" (The Slums Off Hollywood Blvd)."

Yes. This.

My favorite track is Steam Drill Blues from The Legend of John Henry. Click the link, then click the play button at their page. Oh, baby.

I found them, oddly enough, while searching Amazon for a sci-fi romance novels. But I fell in love a different way. The music is lush, moody, driving, and opens the listener to new worlds.

Just like science-fiction romance...
Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Indie vs Traditional Authors: Is it a battle created by Misconceptions?


Indie vs Traditional Authors:

Is it a battle created by Misconceptions?

By S. E. Smith

 

This blog comes a day after I had a very interesting experience with my local ‘hometown’ bookstore. Let me start by describing how the day began to help put it in perspective for everyone. Yesterday was my official, in my mind, first day as a full-time writer. In truth, I’ve been a full-time writer for the past two and a half years. Over the course of the past two plus years I have published twenty-six books including one that made it to the USA TODAY Bestseller’s list and the majority which have been either #1 on Amazon’s Bestseller’s list in Science Fiction Romance or at least in the top ten in one genre or the other.

For my first day, I had to make some serious decisions. One was to keep a promise to my husband and myself. I promised that if I gave up one forty hour a week job that I would take better care of myself.

So, being the type of person I am, I set to work to accomplish that goal with the same tenacity that I attack everything else! Of course, today I am paying for my typical gun-ho behavior… note to self; do not set a one hour goal on the treadmill when you first start. Five minutes would have made more sense, but of course I thought I was in better shape than I am! Another note to self…. You are definitely out of shape, dummy!

My second promise was to set up a writing schedule so that I didn’t work eighty hours a week again. Okay, I’m not doing very well on that one either, but this is only day two. So how does this fit in with Indie vs Traditional Authors? Well, that comes to the next part of my day.

I had an appointment in town and decided that after said appointment would be a great time to visit the locally owned bookstore that ‘promoted’ author events for the community. This bookstore has been in business since I moved here almost thirty years ago. I often took my children there and as a classroom teacher, I loved to take my students there. After all, bookstores are there to share information and knowledge. To open the mind to all kinds of new and exciting things… like adventures, romance, and how to do things like… maybe become an author!

This was not my first time at stopping by this bookstore since I began writing. I received a mild brush-off that time, but thought what-the-heck, I’m relatively unknown still so I’ll give it time and promptly forgot about it. I wasn’t ready for a book signing event at the time anyway as I didn’t have the confidence. Oh yeah, that is something else that I forgot to mention! It takes a lot of confidence (or just finally a swift kick in the pants) to talk yourself into approaching a business like a bookstore about the fact that you are an author and would like to see if they might be interested in your work.

Back to my story, the afternoon had turned dark and thunder rolled across the ever increasingly heavy sky as I pulled into the parking lot. Determined not to turn tail and run, I made it inside the store. I love bookstores and the smell and feel of this one brought back the memories of going there over the years. I browsed the upstairs area that was now set aside for children and young adults, picking up a few items for my grandson before moving back downstairs. Of course, during all the browsing I was fast losing my nerve to ask anyone about the possibilities of letting me do a presentation for would-be writers. As I approached the checkout, I remembered suddenly that I needed a map and out of nowhere one of the store’s representatives magically appeared.

I thought it must be an omen. After all, the skies were pouring their hearts out outside so I couldn’t leave without being a drowned rat and this man suddenly appeared from between the bookshelves. Gathering my flailing courage with both hands, I asked him if it was possible to leave my business card with the store with the hopes of doing a guest appearance.

Now, this is where the sky turned dark on the inside of the store. I will stress that the man was polite. It was not so much all of what he said, but what he didn’t say that raised the red flags. There is a huge misconception that self-published or Indie authors do not have the same degree of professionalism as those of the traditionally published kind.

The moment he asked who my publisher was, I knew the door was shutting. I just didn’t expect it to be with such a loud ‘bang’. I swear his nose lifted an added inch when I looked him in the eye and told him proudly that I was an Indie Author.

He politely told me that the store received numerous requests such as mine daily from new authors or those who wanted to write a book and they could not accommodate each request. I pointed out that I was a USA TODAY and Amazon Bestselling author and currently had twenty-six books out. Do you hear that? It is the sound of several more nails in the door to keep Indie Authors out. His nose went a twitch higher when he asked me if I was a New York Times Bestselling Author and informed me that Amazon didn’t count. He pointed out that Amazon was NOT on the big six publishing companies’ good graces at this time because of their handling of some very well-known authors.

I so wanted to point out all the books on the shelves behind him that were not on the New York Times Bestsellers, or even Amazon’s Bestseller’s list, but I was a good girl and kept my mouth shut. The final nail came when he asked me what I wrote! Hide my head in shame (not), I told him I was primarily a Science Fiction Romance writer. He haughtily informed me that their Science Fiction area was bigger than it should be and that their ‘clientele’ was too conservative for that genre. He said if I could perhaps encourage some readers to come in and ask for my books or even Science Fiction that he might consider it.

Being the good girl (not) that I am, I smiled politely, paid for my purchases, and left. As I got in the car, I decided I wouldn’t darken their closed-minded store again. This might explain why they have a shrinking ‘clientele’. Not all the people living in my area are conservative. Some of them actually like to step out of the box, open their minds, and live a little.

Yes, I think there is a difference between Traditional published authors and Indie. The problem isn’t with the authors so much as with the die-hard bookstores and publishing companies that are resisting listening to readers who are telling them that they can no longer dictate what readers are allowed to read. There will be other opportunities to share my stories and help budding authors reach their dreams. If you must know, I prefer being outside anyway.

S. E. Smith is a USA TODAY and #1 International Bestselling author who has always been a romantic and a dreamer. An avid writer, she has spent years writing, although it has usually been technical papers for college. Now, she spends her evenings and weekends writing and her nights dreaming up new stories. An affirmed “geek,” she spends her days working on computers and other peripherals. She enjoys camping and traveling when she is not out on a date with her favorite romantic guy. Fans can reach her at SESmithFL@gmail.com or visit her web site at: http://sesmithfl.com. Join me for additional information about the books at http://pinterest.com/sesmithfl/s-e-smith/, http://twitter.com/sesmithfl, http://facebook.com/se.smith.5 and at my new book discussion forum at http://www.sesmithromance.com

Additional Books or for links to purchase the books readers can go to my website, Amazon, Kobo, Lulu, Smashwords, iBooks or Barnes and Nobles.

Abducting Abby (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 1)
Capturing Cara (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 2)
Tracking Trisha (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 3)
Ambushing Ariel (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 4)
For the Love of Tia (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 4.1)
Cornering Carmen (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 5)
Paul’s Pursuit (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 6)
Choosing Riley (Sarafin Warriors: Book 1)
Ha’ven’s Song (Curizan Warrior: Book 1)
Hunter’s Claim (The Alliance: Book 1)
Razor’s Traitorous Heart (The Alliance: Book 2)
Lily’s Cowboys (Heaven Sent: Book 1)
Touching Rune (Heaven Sent: Book 2)
Indiana Wild (Spirit Pass: Book 1)
River’s Run (Lords of Kassis: Book 1)
Star’s Storm (Lords of Kassis: Book 2)
Jo’s Journey (Lords of Kassis: Book 3)
Rescuing Mattie (Lords of Kassis: Book 3.1)
Tink’s Neverland (Cosmo’s Gateway: Book 1)
Hannah’s Warrior (Cosmos’ Gateway: Book 2)
Tansy’s Titan (Cosmos’ Gateway: Book 3)
Cosmos’ Promise (Cosmos’ Gateway: Book 4)
Gracie’s Touch (Zion Warriors: Book 1)
Krac’s Firebrand (Zion Warriors: Book 2)
A Warrior’s Heart (Marastin Dow Book 1.1)
 

 

 

 
Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Which is mighter? The Sword or the Pen?

It's time again - another blog. I hate to admit it, but I really don't like writing blogs. I figure since my "real" life is totally boring why would anyone want to read about it.  I can rarely come up with interesting things to write about - in a blog - I save all the exciting and adventurous ideas I have for the characters in my books.

Fortunately for me Brandon Alexander Davis the hero from my contemporary fantasy romance THE SWORD AND THE PEN has been pestering me to let him talk to readers directly. So here goes:



Dear Reader,

I’m a simple man.  I became a writer for several reasons.  One, crowds make me nervous and writing is a solitary occupation, so I don’t have to interact with people on a day-to-day basis.  Two, while I’m immersed in my writing I get to create my own reality, my own rules, rather than adhere to the insanity of the real world.  But the true reason I write is because I’ve always found fictional people much easier to deal with than the flesh and blood type.  The characters in my sword and sorcery novels are mine to control.  Unlike “real” people, my ex-wife and agent to name a few, fictional people don’t argue, nag or leave the cap off the toothpaste tube.  They do what I tell them to do, when I tell them to do it and if they piss me off I can do away with them without repercussion.

Or at least they did until I decided to kill off Serilda d’Lar, the main character in my successful Warrior Woman series, and take my writing in a different direction.  A direction that I hoped might result in my gaining a life of my own outside of writing.  But when a woman, complete with sexy leather apparel, a mile-long sword, and a badass attitude, appeared in my study and demanded I send her back, things took a wrong turn.

“Who are you and where do you want me to send you,” I asked.  When she answered, “Serilda,” and said she wanted me to send her back into the imaginary world of my novels, I knew she was nuts.  Fictional characters don’t come to life.  Still, since her delusion was based on my work, I felt responsible for her.  The fact that she stirred me in ways I thought had died along with my marriage had nothing to do with my not reporting her to the police or having her committed.  Or at least that’s what I told myself.

Even as the evidence mounted in favor of her bizarre claim - she knew things about Serilda that I never wrote down or revealed to another living soul - she couldn’t be the woman I created.  Fictional characters don’t come to life.  No writer has that kind of power.  Do they?

As I fight against my growing belief in her tale, I have no idea how to return her to the realm of my imagination, nor any desire to do so.  I want her to be real, to stay, to be a part of my life. But fate has other plans.

Now in order to save her from the noble death I’ve written for her, I have to face the reality of the brutal world I created.

Wish me luck.  I’m going to need it.

Sincerely,
Brandon Alexander Davis

I hope you enjoyed hearing from Brandon.
Thanks!
Elysa Hendricks

Friday, July 11, 2014

Immersion

“Wingardium Leviosa!”

I admit, I tried it. Of course, I didn't fly, nor did any of the objects around me take wing. But, for a fleeting instance, it might have happened. That magical moment when you place the book down and your eyes are beginning to adjust to distances further than ten inches in front of your face. That split second, between the tick and the tock, when two worlds bump into each other. One, a world created within the pages of the book — a world you've been living in for the past few hours. The other, reality.

These worlds make us beg for more when we turn the last page. Not for the characters, but for the place. I wanted to open every door and cabinet at Hogwarts. I wanted to explore on my own — without Harry and friends tagging along and getting into trouble, Just let me snoop around all by myself for a while.

How do these writers create these fictional worlds that, for a time, seem more real than our own. Middle Earth, Hogwarts, and Harry Dresden’s Chicago are such places. It must be magic, right? What other explanation is there?

I have a theory — actually its more of a hypothesis at this point; more testing is needed to confirm it, and that’s where you come in. You, the readers and writers of Sci-fi and Fantasy can help me to validate/repudiate my claim.

Assertion: In order to create a world, in which a reader can fully immerse themselves, the author must be fully immersed during the writing process.

Granted, it sounds simple and makes sense, but in all of the ‘World-Building’ books I've studied, not one has mentioned it. They go on and on about charts, timelines, histories, graphs, geography, biology and lots of other things, but never advise the author to just go and live there for a while.

I stumbled across this realization while writing Pangaea, (not yet released). At first, it was brief, like that tick between the tock — I forgot where I was. That same ephemeral bliss, I enjoyed as a reader of other worlds, I was now experiencing as a writer in Pangaea.

Some might call it being In-The-Zone, but it was more than that. I've been In-The-Zone before with my characters, where the characters talk to me; making me feel more like a stenographer than an author, as I dutifully take down their story. (In The Minstrel’s Tale, the narrative voice was Patrick Stewart, a voice I enjoyed listening to for many, many hours.) This wasn't that.

I’m not sure how to explain it so that I don’t come off as insane but, then again, almost every sci-fi/fantasy writer I know is a bit crazy, (and I suspect most readers are, too) so at least I’ll be in good company. Here goes:

There were times as I was writing Pangaea when, out of the corner of my eye, something odd would catch my attention. Something I hadn't planned into this world. I would wander over to investigate, and immediately recognize that it did belong in this world. Spooky, right? It gets better.

Everything in my ‘real’ life began to be filtered through the lens of Pangaea. The news; this would never happen on Pangaea or how would the Pangaeans have handled this? My friends; how Pangaean were they or how would they fare living on Pangaea? Even history; how would this relate to Pangaea or did the Pangaean’s have anything to do with this? Food; would Pangaeans eat this? How would they prepare it? Even my sex life became merged with this world, but we won’t go there.

In the midst of my first draft, I found it difficult to separate the worlds — and I lived in Pangaea. Crazy, right? I warned you.

Anyway, it remains to be seen whether my readers will enjoy that immersive experience, too and my hypothesis gains credibility. Pangaea won’t be out until next year and I’m impatient to see if my theory is sound. Hence my call for test subjects. I’d love to hear your experiences with immersive reading and/or writing. Do you think I’m on track or off my rocker?


Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The Siren's Cry of Freedom

Smooshed as we are between American Independence Day and France's Bastille Day, I thought I'd write a short post about freedom. Freedom is one of those nebulous words. We are free to speak as we want but are free from Tyranny. We are free to worship, but free from oppression.

But as the cliche goes, Freedom isn't free.

It requires work, diligence and self-sacrifce.

Paradoxically, those freedoms must have controls for a society to function. Your freedom of speech doesn't include the right to yell 'Fire' in a crowded movie theatre. But you can spew hatred and intolerance from a street corner as long as another person can express their opinion of your subpar intelligence or walk away.

No society can exist without some constraints of freedom, but a society with some freedoms for all should exist.

The notion of freedom is a common one is SciFi. The Empire in Star Wars provides freedom for  Tha select few. You are free to have your say in government if you survive your tour of duty in the Bug War in Starship Troopers.  In my book, The Syn-En Solution, my Synthetically-enhanced humans (aka cyborgs) don't have any rights/freedoms because they are more machine than man. Nuances of the theme ripple throughout the Hunger Games, Divergent and Dune.

What about in  your favorite SciFi movie or book? How does freedom come into play?

Who We Are

This tells about us.

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